“Everyone knows the cases against me are difficult,” Netanyahu said, adding that prosecutors had not done a good job. Nevertheless, he said the evidence at this time would be an interference in the election.
Israel’s longest-serving leader is also the first sitting prime minister to face corruption. Israeli law requires cabinet ministers to resign if charged with criminal offenses, but does not pay specific attention to the case of a prime minister under indictment.
Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing and dismissed the charges against him as a ‘witch hunt’ orchestrated by biased law enforcers and the media. He refused to step down and used his office as a bullying pulpit against critics and the criminal justice system.
Netanyahu’s lawyers submitted a written response during the trial on Monday in which they pleaded not guilty. They then protested on procedural grounds against the cases and say the attorney general did not properly approve the investigation in writing.
After about 20 minutes, Netanyahu leaves the courtroom without explanation and leaves his car. His only remarks to the court were that he had nothing to add to his lawyer’s response to the charges.
The trial continued in his absence, while his lawyers argued for more than an hour that constitutional procedures had not been followed. The judges appeared skeptical and repeatedly called on the defense attorneys to close it. The prosecutor then rejected the arguments, saying the attorney general had approved the investigation in dozens of meetings.
The prime minister’s lawyers have asked the court to adjourn testimony for a few more months, claiming they did not have enough time to prepare. If granted, the hearings will take place after the next election.
Outside the courthouse, about 150 protesters chanted against Netanyahu. Many have banners with the caption “Crime Minister.”
“We want a new government, a clean government, no corruption,” said Sharon Sagy, a protester. “We do not want Bibi Netanyahu, we want him to go, he must go,” she said by his nickname.
At the start of his trial in May last year, Netanyahu was flanked by a group of Likud party allies as he competed against the media, police, judges and prosecutors. He said the trial was aimed at “overthrowing a strong, right-wing prime minister and thus removing the nationalist camp from the country’s leadership for years.”
Monday’s trial was much muted. Netanyahu arrived at the court unaccompanied by supporters and entered through a back entrance.
Netanyahu has served as Israel’s prime minister since 2009, and has managed to hang on to power over the past two years through three turbulent, dead-end elections. His weak governing coalition collapsed in December and he is now facing a major battle for re-election in the March 23 parliamentary elections.